PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 382, 21 June 1861, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuesday, June 18.

The Council met at 2 o'clock

Present: The Speaker, the Provincial Solicitor, Messrs. Wells, Curtis, Elliott, Hewetson, M'Rae, Kerr, Horn, Baigent, Parker, and Dodson.

Absent: The Provincial Sccretaiy, Drs. Renwick and Monro, Rolling,' Gibbs, Simmouds, Marsden, Mackay, M'Mahon, and Saundcrs. The minutes of the preceding day were read and confirmed.

Message No 33 from the Superintendent proposing certain amendments to the Appropriation Act, as follows:—

After the words ' existing contracts' the figures £3839 15s iOd bo struck out, and the figures £3869 15s. lOd. substituted.

Also, under the heading, 'Public Works and Purposes General,' that the words and figures ' Lock-up, Kelson, ,£2OO/ be struck out, and the words and figures 'Court House and Lock-up, Nelson, £800!/ substituted. Also, after the words and figures ' Land Scrip to Major Cook, £300,' that the words and figures ' Compensation to Jacob Watson for loss of land, iJIOO,' be inserted.

And also, that in Clause 1 the figures' £44,586,' be substituted for ' ,£43,856.'

The Provincial Solicitor moved 'that the house go into committee to take into consideration his Honor's message and that Mr. Wells take tho chair.

Agreed to. The several items were then passed through committee.

The Provincial Solicitor moved ' the above amendments passed in Committee bo adopted by the Council.'

Mr. Horn seconded the motion, which was carried.

The Provincial Solicitor proposed that Messrs. Wells and M'Rae be deputed to wait upon the Supcrinfendent to inform him that the Council had terminated the proceedings. His Honor then entered the Council Chamber, and delivered the following address:—>

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Provincial Council—

In bringing the present session to a close, permit mo to thank you for tho assiduity with which you have attended to tho numerous and important questions which have been brought under your notice.

I desire to announce to you that I have given, on behalf of his Excellency the Governor, my assent to the following Acts, passed by you during the present session, namely:— Waimei East Road Alteration Act, Gor3o Hedges Act,

Nelson Board of Works Debenture Amendment Act, Thistle Act, 1861, ;

Impounding Act, ISGI, Protection of Animals Act, Appropriation Act, 18CI; '. and I have reserved the following acts for tho signification of the Governor's pleasure thereon, namely:— Custom House Sito Act, Electoral Districts Act, Patent Slip and Dry Dock Act.

Amongst the various measures which hare received your consideration was that of supplying the town with water by moans of waterworks. This interesting subject haa received the careful attention of the Government, and I may also remark that the requisite reserves of land wsre, some time since, made by me for that purpose. It is however, in my opinion, very doubtful whether, co long as Nelson has its present abundant supply of springs and streams, any undertaking on commercial principles would satisfactorily accomplish the contemplated object, without a considerable subsidy from the public revenue, or the imposition ofa forced rate upon the inhabitants. The latter course I should regard as exceedingly oppressive and unjust under existing circumstances, and is one to which I could not give my assent without a clearly expressed opinion on the part of the inhabit tants generally of their desire to bo taxed for thapurpose. Moreover, the passing of such an extreme measure would have pledged a considerable portion of tho future revenue of the province to those who might advance capital for tho construction of the requisito works. This, in my judgment, would be, so long as the New Provinces Act is permitted to exist, not only unwise, but decidedly wrong, inasmuch as tho lapse of a few months may lead to a further division of the province, should insufficient reflection precipitate an expedient so dangeroug to our common success, and thereby take from us the means required for upholding the public credit.

One measure to which, after some hesitation, 1 have assented, namely, tho Protection of Animals Act, may be viewed, I must confess, with some"suspicion. Were I to suppose for a moment that this Act could ever be perverted into anything like a game law, it would meet my instant disapproval: but I find it intends to provide only for tho protection of imported animals, or such as are of so rare a character as to make it desirable to take every precaution to preservo them in order to ensure their proper increase. It will now remain with the Superintendent to declare when that period has arrived. I feel assured that every well-disposed person will aid the Government in a course which will finally bo for the benefit of the community at large.

I have already transmitted to the General Government the resolutions passed by you for improving the Waste Land Regulations. I trust they will confer great benefits on those who are desirous ot acquiring land in fresh districts. The formation of roads, as preliminary to settlement, and the mode of leasing mineral lands will do greatly improved by their adoption.

The additions which have been made at your request to the Appropriation Act," might occasion the inference that a hidden source of great wealth must lie within the province. Should your views of the estimated revenue prove correct, it will afford me great pleasure to appropriate it as speedily as economy will allow, in accordance with your recommendations. Your attention has, I understand, been given to the subject of immigration. The comforts and advantages offered by this province will of themselves present some of the strongest motives to really industrious and useful parties to visit our shores and settle here. With land varying in price from five to twenty shillings per acre, an exceedingly healthy climate, security from native molestation, and most promising auriferous and other mineral prospects now clearly bef ro the public, we shall have little cause to fear any lack of European additions to our population. To obtain ?uoh I do not think it will be necessary- eithor to provide free passages or offer the inducements of free grants of land. I still, however think that a judicious system of land sales on deferred payments would prove highly beneficial, Nu)»e,i'OQß?epQrtah»yebeeoadoptQd by you reU-

tive to subjects of deep interest.. These shall have my early and earnest consideration, so as to insure their effective practical admission for the welfare of the province.

I have now, gentleman, to express my warm acknowledgements of the friendly feeling displayed by you both to myself and the other members of the Government, and I sincerely hope your efforts to promote the public welfare will be duly appreciated by your respective constituencies.

I how declare this Council to be prorogued, and it stands prorogued accordingly. .T.P.ROBINSON,

Superintendent.